Hairpin



Patented Apr. 19, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE WALTER H. HERMSIDORF, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO CHAIN STORE PRODUCTS CORPORATION, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE HAIRPIN Application filed March 31,

The present invention relates to improvements in hairpins constructed particularly for use with long hair. I

Hairpins for long hair, heretofore devised, usually comprised a strip of round metal, lent in the form of a U to form two juxtaposed legs, said legs being either crimped or straight, and the circular cross-section of the pin throughout its entire length was uniform. In a pin of this type the major portion of the holding action was caused by friction .of the legs of the pin on the hair assisted by the resiliency of the pin induced by the U-bend and the increased frictional surface of the crimps. The two juxtaposed legs of these pins possessed little or no quality of resiliency and hence rendered substantially no assistance to the U-bend in supplying resiliency to the pin.

Accordingly, one of the features of the present invent-ion resides in the provision of a hairpin for long hair which possesses, in addition to the resilient U bend of material of substantial cross section, and the increased frictional surfaces of crimps formed in the juxtaposed legs, the quality of resiliency in the juxtaposed legs.

The hairpin comprising my invention briefly described includes a strip of resilient material. preferably metal, bent intermediate its length to form two oppositely disposed legs tapering in thickness from a point adjacent the bent end thereof to the end of the leg, and at the same time increasing in width from said point to the end of said leg. The legs intermediate their length may be crimped, the crests and troughs of said crimps being oppositely disposed on eachleg.

A troublesome and discomforting feature inherent in hairpins hertofore devised is that the ends of thelegs pierce or injure the scalp of the user. This is due primarily to the fact that the legs of these conventional pins are so unyielding and stiff that when the ends of the legs contact the scalp they will not bend or be deflected thereby, but vill pierce the scalp, causing the user great discomfort. This uncomfortable condition is usually experienced by women putting on or taking off a relatively tight-fitting hat.

1930. Serial No. 440,288.

VYith long hair the pin has an opportunity of disposing itself more or less perpendicular to the scalp, and hence is more troublesome to long-haired women than to those having short or bobbed hair, inasmuch as bobbed hair more or less clings to the surface of the head and the pins used therein lie more or less parallel to the head.

Hence, another important feature of the present invention resides in the yieldable character of the legs which permit the same to be deflected parallel to the scalp when contacting the same.

Other and further important features of the present invention will be apparent from the accompanying drawings and following detail description.

In the drawings, Fig. 1 is an elevational view illustrating the hairpin of this invention.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Referring more in detail to the drawings, the reference numeral 1 indicates a strip of flexible material, preferably metal, bent intermediate its length at 2 in the form of a U providing two oppositely spaced legs 3 and 4. The original stripma-y be of circular section and when bent as shown the legs 3 and 4: thus formed may taper. in thickness from a point 5-adjacent the bent portion thereof to the end of the legs. The width of the legs may gradually increase from the point 5 to the ends thereof and each of the ends may be rounded, as shown at 6 in Fig. 2, to prevent said ends from piercing or injuring the scalp of the wearer.

The bent portion 2 may preferably be of circular section and is adapted to impart an element'of rigidity to the bifurcated structure, whereas the provision of the gradual tapering legs imparts an element of resiliency to the structure.

In use, the pin may be inserted into the hair of the wearer, whereupon the hair included between the legs 3 and t'may spread said legs out of normal position, but due to the resiliency of the same the hair will be firmly gripped therebetween. To assist this gripping action crimps 7 may be formed in each of the legs. It can be readily seen that the structure herein described possesses the quality of strength or stifi'ness at the bend 2, where such quality is most desirable, and in addition possesses the quality of resiliency in the legs, where such quality is of greatest utility.

It is apparent that herein is provided a device which in addition to more efiic'ient-ly gripping the hair, provides comfort for the wearer .and eliminates troublesome sticking or piercing of the scalp due to the inherent stiffness or rigidity of the fasteners l1eretofore produced.

I claim as my invention:

1. A hairpin constructed of resilient material, comprising two spaced legs each having gradually increasing width toward itsextrem'ity, and an integral connecting bend for said legs.

2. A hairpin constructed of resilient material, comprising two spaced legs each having gradually increasing width towards its extremity, and an integral connecting bend for said legs, said bend being of a substantially greater thickness than said legs.

'3. A hairpin constructed of resilient material, comprising two spaced legs each having a gradually decreasing thickness toward its extremity and anintegr-al connecting bend for said legs.

4. A hairpin constructed of resilient material, comprising two spaced legs each having a I gradually decreasing thickness toward its extremity and an integral connecting bend forsaid legs, said bend being of a substantially great-er thickness than said legs.

5. A hairpin constructed of resilient material, comprising two spaced legs having a gradually decreasing thickness and a gradually increasing width toward their extremities, and an integral connecting bend for said legs.

6. A hairpin constructed of resilient material, comprising two spaced legs having a gradually decreasing thickness and a gradually increasing width toward their extremities, and an integral connecting bend for said legs, said bend being of a substantially greater thickness than said legs.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

WALTER H. HERMSDORF. 

